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Dennis Rodman on North Korea: 'I won't go back'

By NINA MANDELL, USA TODAY
11:18 a.m. EDT March 10, 2014

Former NBA basketball player Dennis Rodman of the US (C) waits to check in for his flight to North Korea after his arrival at Beijing's international airport on January 6, 2014. Rodman, who visited Pyongyang in December, will visit North Korea from January 6 to 10. AFP PHOTO / WANG ZHAO (Photo credit should read WANG ZHAO/AFP/Getty Images) (Photo: WANG ZHAO AFP/Getty Images)

Manila, PHILIPPINES: Former NBA star Dennis Rodman gestures to teammates during the "Bad Boy Tour" exhibition game against Team Philippines in Manila 01 May 2006. The ex-Chicago Bulls star player turned down attempts of his estranged father for personal meeting. Philander, retired US military personnel runs a bar outside the former US military airbase north of Manila. Rodman took a night-high 16 rebounds and put in two points score for his team but Team Philippines won against the Rodman-powered USA Legends 110-102 while his father cheered on the sideline. AFP PHOTO AFP PHOTO JOEL NITO (Photo credit should read JOEL NITO/AFP/Getty Images) (Photo: JOEL NITO AFP/Getty Images)

Dennis Rodman and Cindy Margolis during Lingerie Bowl III National Kick Off Party at Cabana Club in Hollywood, California, United States. (Photo by Jean-Paul Aussenard/WireImage) (Photo: Jean-Paul Aussenard WireImage)

WUHAN, CHINA - AUGUST 12: (CHINA OUT) Former NBA star Dennis Rodman rests during an exhibition match between former NBA players and the US university students All-star Team on August 12, 2005 in Wuhan of Hubei Province, central China. Dennis Rodman is visiting China for the "Former NBA Superstar 2005 China Tour", which will make stops in Wuhan and Changsha. Retired NBA players Randolph Keys, Anthony Bonner also attend the tour. (Photo by China Photos/Getty Images) (Photo: China Photos Getty Images)

Isiah Thomas and Dennis Rodman during TNT Sports Presents the American Express "Magic" Johnson All Star Celebration at Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, California, United States. (Photo by George Pimentel/WireImage) (Photo: George Pimentel WireImage)

BOSTON, UNITED STATES: Dennis Rodman of the Dallas Mavericks jumps after a loose ball in the first half against the Boston Celtics 28 February 2000 at the Fleet Center in Boston, Massachusetts. AFP PHOTO/John MOTTERN (Photo credit should read JOHN MOTTERN/AFP/Getty Images) (Photo: JOHN MOTTERN AFP/Getty Images)

INGLEWOOD, UNITED STATES: Official Don Vaden (L) walks away as Los Angeles Lakers player Dennis Rodman follows him after being called for a foul in the third quarter during their game against the Seattle SuperSonics at the Great Western Forum in Inglewood, California 11 April 1999. The SuperSonics defeated the Lakers 113-109. (ELECTRONIC IMAGE) AFP PHOTO/Mike NELSON (Photo credit should read MIKE NELSON/AFP/Getty Images) (Photo: MIKE NELSON AFP/Getty Images)

6 Apr 1999: Dennis Rodman #73 of the Los Angeles Lakers passes the ball down the court during the game against the Utah Jazz at the Great Western Forum in Inglewood, California. The Jazz defeated the Lakers 106-93. Mandatory Credit: Todd Warshaw /Allsport (Photo: Todd Warshaw Getty Images)

BEVERLY HILLS, UNITED STATES: Professional basketball player Dennis Rodman (R) of the Chicago Bulls poses with World Champion Professional wrestler Hollywood Hulk Hogan (L) following a press conference to announce 18 June that Karl Malone of the Utah Jazz and Rodman will wrestle each other in San Diego at the "Bash At The Beach" professional wrestling extravaganza 12 July. Rodman (aka Rodzilla) will be paired with Hogan and Malone's partner will be Diamond Dallas Page. AFP PHOTO Mike NELSON (Photo credit should read MIKE NELSON/AFP/Getty Images) (Photo: MIKE NELSON AFP/Getty Images)

SALT LAKE CITY - JUNE 14: Dennis Rodman of the Chicago Bulls celebrates winning the 1998 NBA Championship after defeating the Utah Jazz in Game Six of the 1998 NBA Finals against the Chicago Bulls at the Delta Center on June 14, 1998 in Salt Lake City, Utah. The Bulls defeated the Jazz 87-86. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 1998 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) (Photo: Nathaniel S. Butler NBAE/Getty Images)

SALT LAKE CITY - JUNE 14: Dennis Rodman #91 of the Chicago Bulls grabs a rebound against the Utah Jazz in Game Six of the 1998 NBA Finals against the Chicago Bulls at the Delta Center on June 14, 1998 in Salt Lake City, Utah. The Bulls defeated the Jazz 87-86. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 1998 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) (Photo: Nathaniel S. Butler NBAE/Getty Images)

SALT LAKE CITY, UNITED STATES: Dennis Rodman (L) of the Chicago Bulls pours champagne on the head of teammate Michael Jordan (R) 14 June after winning game six of the NBA Finals with the Utah Jazz at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, UT. The Bulls won the game 87-86 to win their sixth NBA championship. AFP PHOTO/Mike NELSON (Photo credit should read MIKE NELSON/AFP/Getty Images) (Photo: MIKE NELSON AFP/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON - APRIL 3: Chicago Bulls head coach Phil Jackson poses with Dennis Rodman of the Chicago Bulls during the team's visit to the White House on April 3, 1997 in Washington, D.C. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 1997 NBAE (Photo by Scott Cunningham/NBAE via Getty Images) (Photo: Scott Cunningham NBAE/Getty Images)

CHICAGO, IL - JUNE 18: Chicago Bulls players Dennis Rodman (L), Scottie Pippen (C) and Michael Jordan (R) hold three of the team's four recent Larry O'Brien trophies 18 June at a rally for the team in Grant Park in Chicago. Thousands of fans crowded into the park to see the NBA champions. (Photo credit should read TIM ZIELENBACH/AFP/Getty Images) (Photo: TIM ZIELENBACH AFP/Getty Images)

HOUSTON, TX - JUNE 1: Dennis Rodman (L) of the San Antonio Spurs slams the basketball as Hakeem Olajuwon of the Houston Rockets watches (34) 01 June during the first half of their Western Conference finals game at the Summit in Houston, Texas. The Rockets lead the series 3-2. AFP PHOTO (Photo credit should read BRIAN BAHR/AFP/Getty Images) (Photo: BRIAN BAHR AFP/Getty Images)

SACRAMENTO, CA - 1993: Dennis Rodman #10 of the Detroit Pistons looks on against the Sacramento Kings during a game played on March 16, 1993 at Arco Arena in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 1993 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images) (Photo: Rocky Widner NBAE/Getty Images)

SACRAMENTO, CA - 1993: Dennis Rodman #10 of the Detroit Pistons attempts a shot against Wayman Tisdale #23 of the Sacramento Kings during a game played on March 16, 1993 at Arco Arena in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 1993 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images) (Photo: Rocky Widner NBAE/Getty Images)

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Dennis Rodman said he won't return to North Korea, but insisted his motives for the controversial trips were pure in a recent interview with ESPN.

"At least someone tried," the retired NBA player said. "So that's how I look at it. I don't want to be a hero, I don't want to be this, I don't want to be that. I just wanted to be, just do happy things and do great things in life. That's all I wanted to do. That's it.

"I don't want people to look at me as the devil or evil person," he added. "If I put anyone in harm's way, I apologize, you know. If you don't want me to go back there ever again, I won't go back."

The interview came nearly two months after Rodman and other retired NBA players visited North Korea to play an exhibition basketball game. Rodman was criticized for his friendship with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and widely ridiculed after he sang 'happy birthday' to the North Korean leader.

Rodman added in the interview that his quotes about Kenneth Bae, an American citizen detained in North Korea were taken completely out of context and said he didn't know about the situation. In an interview on CNN during his last trip to the North Korea, Rodman appeared to be telling Chris Cuomo that Bae was guilty of the crimes the North Koreans have accused him of. Bae's family immediately slammed Rodman, calling his comments "outrageous".

"The one thing people took out of context, was it's the way you said 'do you know what he did, do you know what he did? know what he did?' I said 'no, do you know what he did?' I didn't know what the hell he did," Rodman said.

Rodman said that he believed in his four trips he had gotten a view of the North Korean leader's ability to open his country to the 21st century.

"I know truly in my heart's something's going to happen," Rodman said. "If it does happen, watch all of these people kiss my a--."